University of Pittsburgh Athletics
Baseball Closes Out Seton Hall Series with Shutout
6/21/1999 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
May 4, 1998
PITTSBURGH - The Pittsburgh Panther baseball team shut out Big East-foe Seton Hall, 11-0, this afternoon at Trees Field, capturing the series, 2-1, and improving its record to 11-23-1 overall and 5-15 in the league.
The Panthers tallied four runs in the first inning when second baseman Harry Ciavarella (Moscow, Pa./North Pocono) stepped up to the plate with the bases loaded and two outs. Seton Hall's Shawn Turkington hit Ciavarella with a wild pitch, his second of the day, sending home Jason Oliver (Coatsville, Pa./Coatsville Senior). David Hoopes (Hershey, Pa./Lower Dauphin) hit a solid single to right center, driving in Ciavarella and Lou Melucci (Clarks Summit, Pa./Abington Heights). Pittsburgh added its fourth run on a double steal with Hoopes advancing to second and Ciavarella sliding in before the tag at home.
In the second inning, Chris Delsignore (Johnstown, Pa./Westmont Hilltop) hit a single, setting the stage for a two-run Oliver home run over the left field fence, his third of the season. Steve Dickinson (Beaver Falls, Pa./Blackhawk) followed suit in the fifth with two outs and smacked another one out of left field, driving in Charlie Stafford (Edinboro, Pa./General McLane) and Hoopes, who reached on a single and an error, respectively. Lenhart drove in the Panthers' final run by Oliver in the sixth with a double deep into center field.
Bob Balazentis (West Mifflin, Pa./West Mifflin) recorded his first shutout and fourth complete game of the season while improving his record to 2-4. Balazentis gave up only four hits and three walks, and struck out 11 batters.
Offensively, Oliver was a force, going 4-for-5 and recording three runs, two RBI's and one home run. Delsignore and Melucci each went 2-for-5 at the plate, scoring one and two runs, respectively.
Pittsburgh travels to Kent State Tuesday, May 6 for a single game at 3 p.m.
